Recruitment for new characters is pretty much done (except in the case of an unexpectedly excellent future submission, but I'm happy as I am for now...), and a brief roleplay test (one to three days should be enough) starts now.
I firmly believe that players should have an idea of what their potential GM is looking for, so here are my quirks...
+ I prefer 2 to 3 posts a day, especially during a combat, but am happy for characters to only appear once a day if people have busy schedules or you're just exploring a locale/interacting with NPCs, as long as that single post communicates something of interest - even if your character has no pressing actions to take, a personal in-character opinion of the surroundings or brief bit of speech does wonders.
+ With that said, posting many times a day does not guarantee success - content matters more than clockwork regularity.
+ If people are busy and can't post for a while (it happens) just send me a brief PM and I'm happy to keep their character in the background until they're free. I try to be accommodating!
+ If you're going to argue with eachother as a party, I have no problem with that as long as it's honest - tension between PCs is fine, tension between players is rarely warranted.
+ And finally, don't take things too seriously. The campaign threads aren't all what I'd call light material, but PbP is what I do to relax. It's not warhammer 40k out there, and jokes / humorous OOC asides are allowed as long as they don't derail the plot. :)
With all that said, I'm generally a pretty easy-going GM, and I check the boards multiple times a day. If you ever have a problem or request, PM me.
Now, for the start of roleplay... you know your basic current location, seeing as you're all on the train - however, it's time to pick a carriage. Carriage 1 is a small gambling-hall, the narrow tables used for card games and little else, and is reasonably empty. Carriage 2 is basic seating - not exactly comfortable, but with a little room to stretch your legs. Carriage 3 is plush and has multiple compartments, each fit for 4 people and with ample room for luggage.
Enjoy your roleplay, don't worry about the crunch, and just play off of each other. I want to see who works well together, and I'll be watching the thread and updating with answers to any OOC questions and small bits of GMery to keep things moving along.
Good luck!
Gatsby
Ravboom sits on the cheap seats in Carriage 2. For the big folk, there's just room to move around. For the goblin, he's got plenty of room. His great sword hangs from the back of the seat in front of him. He's had words with the conductor for 287 miles about that, but it never goes out of arms reach. And there's nothing more stubborn than a gobby and his sword.
Geralt lays his cards down and folds the hand. It hadn't been a terrible deal, but with the headache pounding away at his temples he couldn't concentrate well enough to make the best of a marginal set of cards.
"How much longer till we get to the gods-damned Temple district?" he wonders, smiling a bit at the minor blasphemy.
He sat in the first of the train's passenger carriages, at the lowest-ante table in the humble gambling den. Even he could afford a few hands at copper-ante levels without dipping into the concealed money pouch he carried.
"Good thing I've never had a problem walking away from the tables. Bitter Bill would have lost this whole sack of gold by now, the foolish geezer."
He chuckled a bit to himself imagining the grizzled old gambler ever being trusted with so much money at once, but his mirth was cut short as another wave of throbbing pain pushed at his skull.
"Play another hand, Geralt. Just keep your mind off it. Doctor ain't but a bit away..."
okay - had an unexpectedly long day at work today, but finally back in the land of the living.
I'll answer the other things that have cropped up in my next post, but a quick one - everburning torches are considered magical. Whilst you will doubtless pick up magical items and the like through the campaign, I'd heavily prefer starting gear to be as mundane as possible.
And by late in the game, I mean like level 8 or later as I'm not expecting to be able to buy good stuff early in the game even if I came across the gold to do so.
Oh, didn't realize this was in roleplay already, was waiting for a dicussion thread, but okay.
Zirul will go to carriage 1. He isn't in disguise since he is on a train, not in town, and it only last 10 minutes, so he isn't worried about who sees him, he'd rather save it.
Card games eh, Zirul is thinking about how to use his abilities to cheat in card games. Though it isn't something he wants to do if he is just playing for fun, unless of course he is doing it to show off.
Zirul walks up to Geralt and whoever else is playing. Whatever time it is and depending upon who is playing, Zirul starts off with Good morning/afternoon/evening gentlemen or ladies and gentlemen. I was just wanting to know if I can join you guys in a game? Game of your choice whatever you are playing.
Jack goes to carriage 1 having some money to burn and lots of time to kill. He liked games, over his travels he found that they were a good way to get information and befriend others.
Jack leans back in the seat as he begins rolling a coin in his hand. it was a simple trick he picked up but he liked it it helped keep his hands agile. "count me in. I could go for a good game right now."
Force of habit saw Geralt nodding politely to the table's new additions. One looked like an elf half-breed. The other... well, Geralt wondered if that skin tone was entirely natural.
"g'Afternoon," he mumbles with the rest of the players.
His headache felt like it was letting up a bit.
"Oh, sweet merciful anything above, just give me a few moments reprieve!"
A few of the other passengers gather around you as you begin to play, more eager to watch others lose their earnings than to risk such losses themselves. Some of these people have been travelling together for weeks, even months - the locomotive carrying you through the snow-choked air between the cities of the Katterfein peaks is merely the final method of transportation for most lowlanders.
The light of the midday sun, rendered wan and pale by the snow in the air and the patina of dirt on the window, catches on the spectacles of a tall gentleman who seats himself next to you,
'Count me in,' he says quietly.
Jack looks over the new arrival then flashes a smile. "Ah, good the more the merrier, and it makes for more of an interesting game. He stops rolling the coin and palms it. "So what game shall we play? I personally prefer cards but I'll leave the choice up to you guys."
It's too late now to disguise myself now as Zirul thinks to himself, but maybe that half-elf will be impressed by my disguise. At least it is not a half-elf woman, so he didn't miss out on much he thinks to himself. I better get on this guys good side Zirul continues to think to himself.
Anybody up for texas holdem? Thought it would be a good game to play as we tell stories and get to know each other.
Zirul then examines his surroundings.
The perfect time to test out my bluff skills Zirul thinks to himself.
Zirul then gives the half-elf Jack a smile, along with anyone else who is human or half-elf. He wants to fit in and doesn't want others to be paranoid of him because he is an outsider.
Good thing there are no full elves Zirul thinks to himself, otherwise he would have to disguise self as elf to avoid racial conflict as he knows how much those two races fight.
'Cards of any sort suit me, sir.' The bespectacled man removes his hat, placing it by his side. 'Though I must say, I'm a much better listener than I am speaker. If you have any stories, I'd love to hear them, though - I've been on the move for more than three weeks, and could do with a good story.'
Varitus slinks into the car like a cat...draws the hood back slowly, revealing his deathly pallor, then whips his cloak back with a flourish... revealing his long, skeletal, leather clad body...then languidly peels off full-length opera gloves.
Cards?, he purrs, looking intensely at the potential competition like a hungry wolf eyes a fat hare.
I'm bored. I'm in.
Stories? Even better, if you have the stomach for it...Varitus graces the speaker with a wicked grinning leer that insists that he means it.
"This is turning into an actual game. Damn, I'm gonna have to start paying attention," Geralt thinks as the table suddenly fills up with players. "Thanks whatever god is listening that the gremlins in my head are finally giving things a rest. Guess even they get tired."
Then another fellow sat down, a man with skin so pale it looked like poured milk.
"Wow. That guy looks the way I've been feeling. Wait... haven't I seen him around? The bard with all the crazy songs, plays some of the spots back near home. He looks even stranger when the lighting's better!"
"Me and these two have a good game of Hobnob going. We can keep with that," Geralt says. "Though I'm up for anything, as well. Stories included." He flashed a grin, thankful that he could finally smile without added pain.
Then he addressed the pale one.
"Are you a musician, by any chance? I think I might have heard you play a few times."
Joza stared out one of the windows of the carriage, taking in the view of the lower tiers of Jevenwist. She had been traveling on the locomotive for some distance and now that she was approaching the end of her journey, she couldn't help but fidget with excitement.
"Okay, first thing to do once we arrive is find a room and a place where I can get a cup of coffee. Maybe explore the city a little and get my bearings before the sun goes down? And tomorrow I can start looking for work."
When she left home, she had had only the vaguest of plans - travel to Jevenwist to seek new opportunities. Her friend Nella had suggested that with her skills, she might be able to seek employment with the local law enforcement.
"I'm not much of a fighter, but I've had enough training to know how to use a blade - and there's really not that much criminal activity in the cities, mostly thugs and cutpurses; nothing I couldn't handle if I had to. Still, I'd rather work in some sort of information-gathering capacity; much more interesting than standing guard and keeping watch."
She wasn't terribly worried. If she couldn't find work with the town guard, there were always other options. Surely she could find another research position somewhere...and there are her alchemical talents.
"Someone will have a use for my abilities. All I have to do is work hard and learn as much as I can until I've got enough capital to truly strike out on my own. And from there....well, the sky is the limit, right?"
The conditions in the carriage are cramped and there's a definite chill in the air, but none of that matters to Joza. Eyes shining, her mind races, considering the possibilities.
"Cat make lousy window." A voice says behind Joza. The goblin pushes a rakish hat up so his beady red eyes can be seen. "Nobody in next row, Cat take two steps left both see out window?"
Jack keeps a friendly smile on as others begin to join them. He always liked meeting new people, and the years of traveling helped him do so. He met all sorts but the sight of the pale man and the dark-skinned one eailer were unusual. "So how about we introduce ourselves. I'm Jack, traveling adventurer and gunsmith. Nice to meet you." Jack gives a little nod to the others.
Why Yes....Jack?...didn't we meet at...the Dark Widow? Such a...delicious little place. Shame about...that girl, though...you know.
Varitus picks up a drink he certainly didn't order, and samples it.
I rather liked singing there.
He focuses on Geralt, then...Perhaps you were there?
Joza jumps slightly, startled out of her reverie by the voice behind her. Turning her head, she realizes that she's being addressed by the goblin sitting in the seat behind her. She had initially been startled to see one on the train when she first boarded; from what little she had learned about them, they were a fairly rare sight this far into the mountains.
"Oh, sorry!" Joza scoots over so that he can get a view out of the window as well. "I get lost in thought, sometimes."
She had been tempted to try speaking to him once or twice, but thought better of it as the goblin gave off the distinct vibe of being uninterested in making small talk. Aside from arguing with the conductor periodically about the placement of his weapon (which had amused her slightly), he had been largely silent.
"He seems different from the stories I've heard about them. How often do you get the chance to speak with one? But what should I say?"
"By the way, you can call me Joza. What do they call you?"
Then he addressed the pale one.
Jack keeps a friendly smile on as others begin to join them. He always liked meeting new people, and the years of traveling helped him do so. He met all sorts but the sight of the pale man and the dark-skinned one eailer were unusual. "So how about we introduce ourselves. I'm Jack, traveling adventurer and gunsmith. Nice to meet you." Jack gives a little nod to the others.
Nice to meet you Jack, I'm Zirul HuntingHawk. I'm a rogue-ish adventurer. So what brings you here Jack?
Zirul shakes Jacks hand. When the game starts Zirul studies everyone carefully. He's planning his bets wisely.Zirul will use to determine if people have good hands and whether or not they are bluffing the call or just hoping for something good. But he is confident in what he has as well, so he will call, not raising a lot until he sees the first flip, even with pocket Kings, you never know what is coming. Let's see how these people play, Zirul thinks to himself. Anyone who is paying attention can clearly see Zirul looking directly into their eyes and studying their facial expressions. Zirul will also use to see who is paying a whole lot of attention to him.
"Ravboom be Ravboom. Ravboom think big folk lost in thought because keep putting words on paper. Words on paper mean more empty space between ears. More place get lost." The goblin taps his head. "Ravboom keep all thoughts in head, have plenty around to keep from getting lost." Then the goblin grins, showing off a mouth full of shark like teeth. "Others call Ravboom Ravboom, Damn Goblin, Gobby, Stupid Gobrrraaiiiigurk!, Oh god no don't hit me with the sword again! and sometimes 'Erk!'."
Perhaps you were there?
"Girl? What girl? Probably best not to ask...
"That's the one," Geralt says. "You've got quite the... ah, unusual range of music. Bet you hear that a lot, though. Still, I like it. Doesn't hurt to hear some new songs now and again."
Realizing that the folks around the table expected him to follow suite on the whole "introduction" thing, Geralt put his fist to heart in a mock salute.
"Name's Geralt." With a small smile, he grabs the collar of his tunic, wiggling the cloth back and forth to indicate clothing that could charitably be called 'humble'. "I'm not much of anything."
Ah...introductions... how quaint. I forget myself.
Varitus chuckles at his little joke...
Varitus... Mal...he draws it out...
…entertainer...for the deliciously wicked...but not outright evil.
I suppose.
The bespectacled gentleman sitting with you looks like he's listening, but offers nothing more himself for the moment - he's staring at his cards, face inscrutable.
Joza blinks, bemused by the goblin's words. "I suppose that's one way to look at it. Guess I'd better not keep a journal then, eh?" She then gives Ravboom a shrewd look. "Jevenwist doesn't seem like it would be your usual stomping ground. If I'm not being too nosy, what brings you this way?"
The goblin snorts. "Stupid, stubborn, lazy, good for nothing, gambling, wenching, drunkard Tiefling. Ravboom going to get bounty." The goblin grins, showing shark like teeth again. "Ravboom always get bounty."
Jack thinks back for a moment. "Ah, I remember you now. I kind of enjoyed your songs despite the disturbing things the told."
He turns to Geralt. "Nice to meet you Geralt. I believe I saw you a few times back in the city." Now addressing the others as well. "So what brings you all to Jevenwist?"
Jack then looks at his cards and tries to make it seem he got a perfect hand.
"Nice to meet you Geralt. I believe I saw you a few times back in the city."
Geralt nods to Jack. "Yeah, we've run into each other before. Never did get your name - good to meet you, finally."
Seeing that his nice little distracting game of half-hearted cardplayers was over, Geralt decides to rise to the competition.
Varitus focuses intensely on each player in turn.
Jack thinks back for a moment. "Ah, I remember you now. I kind of enjoyed your songs despite the disturbing things the told."
He turns to Geralt. "Nice to meet you Geralt. I believe I saw you a few times back in the city." Now addressing the others as well. "So what brings you all to Jevenwist?"
Jack then looks at his cards and tries to make it seem he got a perfect hand.
Zirul turns to Jack. Trying to practice my mountain climbing, and of course ready to kill off some monsters for gold. Though I'm careful about what I do, as I have my stealthy ways of taking them out. So Jack, where did you learn your gun-slinging skills?
Zirul then folds, he doesn't feel like bluffing this one, nor does he have a confident hand. Plus everyone else seems too confident. And he'd rather not let his opponents know he can be suckered in easily. Then turns and asks Mal a question So I suppose you play a heavy metalt tune, or even a goth music tone, or you have or music have a horror tone to it?Also, Zirul seems a little intimidated by Mal, but not in the since that he has good cards, but in the since that he is creepy.
Death...and the dead...are...fascinating... so I sing about them.
Varitus lowers his cards and leans back, letting his unruly hair fall as it will...
Oh...and those past dead, but still walking. I sing... not just about them...but for them, sometimes...
Varitus finishes with a disturbing leer.
Death...and the dead...are...fascinating... so I sing about them.
Varitus lowers his cards and leans back, letting his unruly hair fall as it will...
Oh...and those past dead, but still walking. I sing... not just about them...but for them, sometimes...
Varitus finishes with a disturbing leer.
Wow, you should have been a necromancer, if you are all for the undead.
But Zirul isn't looking at just Varitus, he is looking all around the table, studying everyone.to see if Zirul actually notices Varituses disturbing leer.
Varitus raises an eyebrow at the comment, and grins wickedly, but withholds any comment of his own.
"Damn, that guy is creepy," Geralt thinks. He's too experienced a card player to let that put him off his game, though.
Geralt keeps up with the betting, confident that he's on solid footing for this hand.
"Damn, that guy is creepy," Geralt thinks. He's too experienced a card player to let that put him off his game, though.
Geralt keeps up with the betting, confident that he's on solid footing for this hand.
The combination of the goblin's sharp-toothed grin and the weapon he carried left Joza with little reason to doubt his words. "Yes, I'm sure that you do", she said grimly.
A pause. The catfolk's expression returns to one of curiosity.
"So you're after a tiefling. What did he do?"
Jack continues to bet, and once the cards fall he once again tries to bluff.
A devilish grin appears on Jack's face."Perhaps you would like to share one of your songs."
Varitus grins a toothy grin, and looks Jack in the eye for a moment...Why not...let's see...
...pondering for a long moment, finger to his lips...
After a short time, Varitus starts to sing...huskily...almost too low to be heard...the volume rises at the chorus, and stays strong:
Lost moons of regrets The latest full of secrets Air scents of love Peace faith and warmth A wax temple priestess Tempting sweet kisses... When someone calls Behind a ghostly postless door
Shocking hurtful sight Wide open bleeding eyes Snakes creep inside Wrapping my mind
Quiet down! The heart sound Shake down! Hellbound
Sad timeless trip Dark wavering poetry Bring me back again Those ghouls from the past Soundless screams and shouts Someone get them out! No way to me myself I'm chained to an endless past
Shocking hurtful sight Wide open bleeding eyes Snakes creep inside Wrapping my mind
Quiet down! The heart sound Shake down! Hellbound
...until the end, when his voice drops again.
Ravboom pushes his hat back, looking at the feline curiously, but then he shrugs. "Depends on what city you in when you ask. Bar brawls. Sleep with Noble's Wife, Daughter. Same Noble. Beat up people in back alley. Ran off and left responsibilities. Owed money to people. Lying. Drunken public conduct. Public indecency. Destruction of Property." He ticks them off on his stubby fingers. "Be rumors of other things, but those be things I can confirm."
Quiet down! The heart sound Shake down! hellbound
Geralt winces slightly at each punctuated chorus. Hellbound! Each punching syllable drilled into him the way only a skilled singer could make them stab. And they dredged up memories - memories of bad dreams. Dreams of blood, and fire, and pain and tears.
"Just dreams, Geralt. Just dreams. Just part of this damn illness. Doctor'll have something for them too," he reassures himself.
Even with the unpleasant memories, Geralt was forced to admit the bard was damned good.
"Creepy, but talented."
"Impressive song," he says aloud to Varitus. "Haunting. Your own?"
At Ravboom's description of the tiefling, Joza whistles. "Basically a little bit of everything then. Sounds like your quarry is quite the scoundrel." Noting the goblin's curious look, she adds, "Don't mind me. Curiosity has always been part of my nature, so sometimes it's difficult to keep from asking questions. I swear I don't mean any harm by it, though."
Ravboom shrugs. "Never met feline before. Whatever race be. Always hear cats be curious to death. Guess counts for four or two leg." He grins, while the words might not be politically correct, there doesn't appear to be any intention of racism in them. "Ravboom agree, tiefling is big scoundrel." He seems to taste the word 'Scoundrel' and decide he likes it.
He's quite for a minute or so, and just when it's almost too long, he finally speaks again. "Ravboom say why Ravboom on stupid train, why Joza on stupid train?"